Compulsory Hindi or MIL in DU angers NE students

An NGO on Tuesday moved the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against Delhi University’s new policy to introduce Hindi or other Modern Indian Languages (MIL) as a compulsory subject, saying it would lead to exclusion of students from northeastern states.

In its complaint filed before the NHRC, the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) alleged “Hindi-isation of Delhi University” would effectively lead to exclusion of students from northeast India.”

The NGO urged the NHRC to intervene and direct the DU to revoke the “discriminatory and anti-national” compulsory MIL policy that has been opposed by northeast students.

Under the current system, a student taking admission to the Delhi University is allowed to opt for any other subject instead of MIL if he/she has not studied MIL at the qualifying level i.e. higher secondary and secondary school.

However, a committee set up by the DU for structuring of syllabus for under- graduate courses recently made it compulsory for all students to opt for either Hindi or 22 other MILs for the four-year undergraduate programme beginning this academic session.

Citing problems of northeast students, ACHR stated there were hundreds of languages in northeast India but only three languages — Bodo, Assamese and Manipuri - were recognised as MIL.

“As students are not taught MIL but their languages, they will be effectively booted out from the Delhi University. Further, not a single college under DU has a faculty to teach Bodo, Assamese and Manipuri,” ACHR director Chakma said.

“This is nothing but a conspiracy to keep the northeast students out of the Delhi University. This is an act against national integration…” Chakma alleged.

Students’ Protest

Students from northeast India protested against the university’s decision to impose Hindi or modern Indian languages, on Monday.

“This step is nothing less than cultural chauvinism on the part of DU directed against the northeast communities,” said a statement issued by the North-East Forum for International Solidarity.